Westwood is tiny. Fewer than half a square mile, about 2,100 people, some 920 households, tucked against State Line Road in Johnson County roughly seven miles south of downtown Kansas City. Census tallies: median year built 1950; detached homes 89%; gas heat 80%; electric heat 20%.
Small lots, tight equipment spaces
Close-set houses leave little side-yard room. Condensers often sit inches from fences or neighbors' walls, and sidewall vent terminations need code clearances from windows, doors, and property lines. A condensing furnace may require creative routing, sometimes up through the roof, to meet those distances.
Where furnaces live here
Basements are standard. Low ceilings, narrow stairways, and older electrical circuits are common. A contractor should check:
- Clearance to bring a new cabinet down the stairs
- Gas pipe sizing for the new burner input
- Dedicated circuit and service switch for the furnace
- Chimney liner if a water heater will remain on the flue
The electric one-in-five
Westwood's 20% electric share is higher than neighboring cities. For those homes, a heat pump with backup heat is usually the efficient replacement. Gas homes adding new central air could consider a dual-fuel pairing with a gas furnace.
About us
We're Furnace Direct, a DBA of Hamlin Mechanical LLC. Furnaces plus heat pumps go out factory-direct, and licensed Westwood installs are dispatched from Kansas City.
Buying smart
Ask how vents will meet clearance rules on a narrow lot, and who handles permits with the city. Replace before your furnace hits a midwinter failure, ideally in September or October.
Contact
Photos of the furnace and the side yard help. Call for Pricing: (888) 762-1334.
Data: Census Reporter, ACS 2024 5-year (small city; wider margins).
Get your system replaced.
Tell us a little about your home and what you're replacing. A specialist will call you to work out exactly what you need, go over the price, and get it replaced. No obligation.